Ram Error

A friend asked me to install some ram into an old computer that they had lying around. It's not new, the old RAM was Pc-100, a 32mb and a 64mb. I had 2-128mb sticks lying around, and we ordered a stick of Muskin.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146079

When I install all 3 sticks, I get this error: "0232: Extended RAM Failed at offset: 1B".

Thinking that 1b was the center slot, I pulled the Mushkin RAM first. It worked, and the error no longer came up. Just in case, I tried the RAM once more (in a different slot, pulling one of the other sticks), and had a different problem. Nothing would display on the monitor. I checked the connections, rebooted, and still nothing. I switched back the RAM and everything worked again.

I'm assuming the RAM is at fault here. Frankly I'm not sure whether or not to send for replacement or refund. I probably have another stick lying around, and at least if there was a compatibility issue rather than a problem with the RAM itself I wouldn't have to return it again.

I can post system specs if necessary. At the moment the computer is inaccessable, but I can check it in a couple hours.

Am I correct in assuming that it is a problem with the RAM? Or does that error denote something else?

 

If the PC works OK with that particular stick of RAM removed, then it is definitely a problem with that RAM. I have had similar problems with using new RAM in older PCs. Even though the new RAM was of the correct style (PC100 168pin SDRAM) it was not compatible probably due to built-in timings or something. It could be that your stick is just bad right from the factory, it happens.

 

Motherbaords for PC100 memory are old enough that they sometimes don't match today's JEDEC standard (=the industry standard), since they might have been made before the standard was set. Also, the standard changes.

You either have a bad module, in which case replacing it will solve your problem, or an incompatible one, which is trickier. Test it alone, to see if it is incompatible with the old memory or with the motherboard--it can be either--and go from there. If it works by itself, post everything you know about the old memory as well as the new, and we'll see what we can figure out. Like dlb said, if they run on different timings, the motherboard may be too old to know how to deal with that.